Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie

Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie is a 1997 American superhero film directed by David Winning and Shuki Levy and written by Levy and Shell Danielson. A sequel to Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie, it is the second Power Rangers film and was produced by Saban Entertainment and Toei Company, Ltd., and was distributed by 20th Century Fox.[5] The film stars Johnny Yong Bosch, Nakia Burrise, Steve Cardenas, Jason David Frank, Austin St. John, Catherine Sutherland, Jason Narvy, Paul Schrier, Hilary Shepard Turner, Amy Jo Johnson, and Blake Foster.

Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie
Theatrical release poster
Directed by
Produced byJonathan Tzachor
Written by
Based onGekisou Sentai Carranger By Toei Company
Starring
Music byShuki Levy
CinematographyIlan Rosenberg
Edited by
  • Henry Richardson
  • B.J. Sears
Production
companies
Distributed by20th Century Fox
Release date
  • March 28, 1997 (1997-03-28)
Running time
99 minutes[2]
CountryUnited States[3]
LanguageEnglish
Box office$9.6 million[4]

The film takes place after the events of Power Rangers Zeo, with the new cast and characters from the film becoming cast members of both Zeo and its successor, Power Rangers Turbo, with the film's events leading into the successor series. As with its television season, the film used concepts and costumes from the Japanese Super Sentai series Gekisou Sentai Carranger. Sets and costumes created for original characters in the film were later used in the television series, with the film's climactic antagonist Maligore being reused for the evil Dark Specter in the subsequent Power Rangers in Space season.

The film was released on March 28, 1997 to generally unfavorable reviews. It was criticized for its visual effects and campiness, but critics praised the performance of its cast.

Plot

On the planet Liaria, a wizard named Lerigot is being hunted down by Divatox; an intergalactic space pirate, who is seeking his golden key to traverse an inter-dimensional gateway and enter into matrimony with Maligore, an imprisoned demon who promises her great riches and power. Lerigot escapes Divatox's forces and travels to Earth in search of Zordon and his friend Alpha 5, but arrives in Africa by accident. Weakened by the sun's ultraviolet rays, Lerigot meets a pack of chimpanzees and wanders off with them. Meanwhile, Divatox sets off for Earth in pursuit.

In Angel Grove, Rocky DeSantos, Adam Park, and Tommy Oliver are training for a charity fighting competition to save the Youth Shelter, when Rocky accidentally injures his back. Katherine Hillard and Tanya Sloan arrive with Justin Stewart, a kid who admires Rocky and frequents the shelter. As Rocky is rushed to the hospital, Justin follows the group and learns they are Power Rangers. Zordon sends Tommy and Katherine to search for Lerigot. They manage to find him and return to the Power Chamber.

Divatox's nephew Elgar, searching for two human sacrifices to revive Maligore, abducts Farkus "Bulk" Bulkmeier and Eugene "Skull" Skullovitch, but Divatox rejects them for not being pure of heart. Upon finding Kimberly Hart and Jason Lee Scott, who are scuba diving nearby, Divatox captures them. While recovering, Lerigot is contacted by Divatox, who has captured his family and demands he surrender himself. Divatox also uses Kimberly and Jason to pressure the Rangers. At the exchange site, Elgar tricks the Rangers and captures Lerigot.

Zordon and Alpha create new powers for the Rangers to defeat Divatox. With the new Turbo powers and their new vehicular Turbo Zords, the Rangers drive across the desert to a ship called the Ghost Galleon. They are joined by Justin, who has received Rocky's Blue Ranger powers while Rocky is recovering in the hospital. On Divatox's submarine, Jason and Kimberly come up with a plan to escape, but though Bulk, Skull, and Kimberly escape the sub, Jason is trapped and left behind.

After Divatox and the Rangers traverse the Nemesis Triangle and reach the island where Maligore is, Divatox torpedoes the Ghost Galleon and the Rangers narrowly escape. Kimberly is recaptured and taken to Divatox by the tribal natives of the island who worship Maligore as their god. At the temple in the volcano, the Rangers fail to free Jason and Kimberly before they are possessed by Maligore and attack the Rangers mercilessly. though The Rangers succeed in freeing Lerigot and his wife Yara, who undo the possession.

Angered, Divatox sacrifices her nephew and successfully revives Maligore. The Rangers combined their Turbo Zords and form the Turbo Megazord to fight Maligore. They defeat him as Divatox and Rygog flee, vowing vengeance. The Rangers pick up Jason, Kimberly, Lerigot, Yara, Bulk and Skull and return to Angel Grove. At the competition, Jason takes Rocky's place, and they win the fight, earning the $25,000 to save the shelter.

Cast
  • Johnny Yong Bosch as Adam Park / Green Turbo Ranger, a martial artist originally from Stone Canyon and formerly, the second Black Mighty Morphin Power Ranger and Green Zeo Ranger. He pilots the Desert Thunder Turbozord
  • Nakia Burrise as Tanya Sloan / Yellow Turbo Ranger, an orphaned girl from Africa and formerly, the Yellow Zeo Ranger. She pilots the Dune Star Turbozord.
  • Jason David Frank as Tommy Oliver / Red Turbo Ranger, the leader of the Power Rangers, Katherine's current love interest and formerly, the Green/White Mighty Morphin Power Ranger, and Red Zeo Ranger. He pilots the Red Lightning Turbozord.
  • Catherine Sutherland as Katherine "Kat" Hillard / Pink Turbo Ranger, an Australian teenager and Tommy's current love interest and formerly, the second Pink Mighty Morphin Power Ranger and Pink Zeo Ranger. She pilots the Wind Chaser Turbozord.
  • Austin St. John as Jason Lee Scott, the first Red Mighty Morphin Power Ranger and formerly the Gold Zeo Ranger.
  • Amy Jo Johnson as Kimberly Hart, the first Pink Mighty Morphin Power Ranger and Tommy's former love interest.
  • Steve Cardenas as Rocky DeSantos, a martial artist and formerly, the second Red Mighty Morphin Power Ranger and Blue Zeo Ranger.
  • Jason Narvy as Eugene "Skull" Skullovitch, a police officer working at Angel Grove.
  • Paul Schrier as Farkus "Bulk" Bulkmeier, a police officer working at Angel Grove.
  • Blake Foster as Justin Stewart / Blue Turbo Ranger,[6] a child in the care of Tanya and Katherine at an Angel Grove children's group. He becomes the Blue Turbo Ranger in Rocky's place and pilots the Mountain Blaster Turbozord.
  • Hilary Shepard Turner as Divatox, a space pirate who seeks to marry the demon Maligore and conquer the galaxy.

Additionally, Gregg Bullock reprises his role as Lt. Jerome Stone from Power Rangers Zeo. Richard Genelle reprises his role as Ernie, the Angel Grove Gym and Juice Bar's owner; Winston Richard plays Zordon, an inter-dimensional being and the Rangers' mentor, with Bob Manahan voicing the character; and Donene Kistler plays Alpha 5, a robot from Edenoi and Zordon's assistant, with Richard Wood voicing Alpha 5. Jon Simanton portrays Lerigot, a wizard who holds a magical key that can open portals to worlds and realms, while Lex Lang provided the voice for the character. Divatox's henchmen includes Lang also voices Rygog, one of Divatox's henchmen. J.B. Levine voice Yara and Bethel, Lerigot's wife and daughter. Danny Wayne Stallcup physically portrays Elgar, Divatox's dimwitted nephew, while David Umansky provides his voice. Mike Deak portrays Maligore, Divatox's fiancé and true antagonist of this movie. Carla Perez reprises her role as Rita Repulsa, a sorceress who has fought the Power Rangers in the past, with Barbara Goodson providing her voice.

Production

As opposed to the CGI Megazord used in the first Power Rangers film, this sequel uses the actual costume of the Turbo Megazord, appearing in American footage (the main series would rely on the Carranger footage). According to a 2013 post on Johnny Yong Bosch's Facebook page, the original script called for a lengthy underwater battle using the Zeo Ranger powers, wherein the Power Rangers emerge with tattered costumes. The unused plot would also explained how the Turbo powers were created. It was also originally scripted that Billy Cranston (the original Blue Mighty Morphin Ranger) had created the Turbo powers with Zordon and Alpha 5. While this plot element was ultimately dropped from the theatrical release, the concept of torn outfits would be used for the Turbo season finale. Also, whereas Hilary Shepard Turner appears as Divatox in the film, by the time filming began for the TV series, she had taken maternity leave, thus being replaced by Carol Hoyt. In the 26th episode "The Darkest Day" seven episodes after the four Veteran Rangers resign and transfer their powers to a new team (filmed after a hiatus of several months), Shepard resumed the role of Divatox, continuing through Power Rangers in Space.

Release

Box office

Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie opened theatrically on March 28, 1997 in 2,113 venues. It earned $3.3 million in its opening weekend, ranking number 7 in the domestic box office.[7] At the end of its run, the film had grossed $8.4 million in North America and $1.3 million overseas for a worldwide total of $9.6 million.[4]

Critical reception

On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 15% based on 20 reviews, with an average rating of 3.8/10.[8] On Metacritic, it has received a weighted average score of 35 out of 100, based on 9 reviews, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".[9] Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a grade B on scale of A to F.[10]

Joe Leydon of Variety criticized the "high-camp cheesiness" and praised the acting of both Hilary Shepard Turner and Amy Jo Johnson.[11] Lawrence Van Gelder of The New York Times has mixed feelings on the film, criticizing the storyline and dialogue and praising the visual effects and production values.[12] Rita Kempley of the Washington Post called it "A purgatory of low-budget interplanetary adventure."[13]

However, Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times gave a positive review, saying the filmmakers have brought "much panache and sophistication to the making of this fantasy adventure extolling the good old-fashioned virtues of spirit and courage embodied by the Power Rangers" and that "Turbo is a solid follow-up." He also praised Turner's acting and the visual effects.[5]

Soundtrack
Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Soundtrack album by
Various artists
ReleasedMarch 18, 1997
Recorded1996
GenreSoundtrack
Length41:05
LabelMercury Records
Saban Records
ProducerRon Kenan
Howard Paar
Power Rangers Film Soundtrack chronology
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers The Movie: Original Motion Picture Score Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the licensed soundtrack to the film. It was released by Mercury Records on March 18, 1997 on Audio CD and Compact Cassette.

The album serves a dual purpose, as it not only used much of the music heard in the movie, but also contained several tracks from Power Rangers: Zeo.

Accolades

Blake Foster was nominated for Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actor at the 1998 Young Artist Awards.[14]

Home media

The film was released on July 8, 1997 on VHS and LaserDisc. The film (as well as 1995's Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie) was then released on a two-sided DVD disc on March 13, 2001, and then re-released on a single-sided disc in 2003. This film was re-released with different packaging in 2011. The film was then re-released in March 2017 in a bundled set with Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie to coincide with the release of the 2017 film Power Rangers.

In 2019, it was announced that Shout! Factory had acquired the rights to re-release the movie and confirmed that Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie would be released for the first time on Blu-ray. It was released on July 30, 2019.[15]

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See also

References
  1. Petrikin, Chris (February 18, 1998). "Fox renamed that toon". Variety. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  2. "TURBO - A POWER RANGERS MOVIE (PG)". British Board of Film Classification. June 6, 1997. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  3. "Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie". American Film Institute. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  4. "Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie (1997)". Box Office Mojo. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  5. Thomas, Kevin (March 28, 1997). "Power Rangers Encounter 'Turbo'-Charged Villainess". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  6. "TV Playbook: Let's Add a Kid!". IGN. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
  7. "Weekend Box Office Results for March 28-30, 1997". Box Office Mojo. Internet Movie Database. March 31, 1997. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  8. "Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  9. "Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  10. "TURBO A POWER RANGERS MOVIE (1997) B". CinemaScore. Archived from the original on February 6, 2018.
  11. Leydon, Joe (March 26, 1997). "Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie". Variety. Penske Media LLC. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  12. Van Gelder, Lawrence (March 29, 1997). "'You Have No Choice, Humans.' Really". The New York Times. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  13. Rita Kempley (March 28, 1997). "'Turbo' Rangers: Say Cheese". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  14. "19th Annual Young Artist Awards". Archived from the original on April 14, 2015. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  15. "Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie". Shout! Factory. July 30, 2019. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
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